Fly-fan



(Np M0ae1. .E 2 Smets-sheet 1;

D.' J.` ROGERS.

FLY FAN.

Patented Opt. 10, 1893.

(No Model.)` 2 Sheets--Sheet 2.x D. J. ROGERS.l

FLY PAN. i

Patented Oct 1930.795?. l). ZRogemJ UNITED STATES PATENT V OFFICE.

DAVID J. ROGERS, OF LEBANON, KENTUCKY.

FLY-FAN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 506,549, dated October 10, 1893.

Application filed January 17,1893. SerialNo. 458.703. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID J. ROGERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lebanon,

` in operative position.

in the county of Marion and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Fly- Fan, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in fly-fans, and particularly to that class thereof carrying swinging fans in contradistinotion to revolving-fans.

The objects in view are to provide a fan of cheap and simple construction adapted for large and small tables and to be conveniently operated by the foot of a person sitting at the table, thus doing away with the necessity of mechanisms employed for this purpose, or the consumption of the time of an attendant.

A further object of theinvention is to adapt the device to serve as a caster for holding vlnegar-cruets, pepper and salt bottles, dac.

With these general objects in view the invention consists in certain features of construction hereinafter speciiied and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawingsz-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fan constructed in accordance with my invention, the same being Fig. 2 is asimilar view of the fan, the same being folded or out of operative position. Fig. 3 is a detail of the fancarrying bail. Fig. 4 is a transverse section through the base and standard.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 designates a preferably cast-metal stationary base, and the same is in this instance constructed heavy so as to give stability to the device and has ageneral triangular shape. The under side of the base is provided with integral feet 2, the same being located at each of the angles of the base and adapted to elevate the latter slightly above the table 3. Three feet are employed, in that inequalities in the leaves of the table where they are joined will not aect the fan/so that the same will rock when operated. Ateach of the angles of the base there is in this instance formed a circular opening 4, the said openings being designed to receive and support such articles as vinegar cruets, salt-cellars, mustard-pots, and the like. The center of the base is provided upon its upper side with a boss 5, the same having a socket 6 formed therein in which is secured a tubular standard 7, in this instance internally bored or made hollow.

In the standard 7 is mounted and adapted to telescope an extension-rod 8, the said rod being adjustable Within the standard by means of a set-screw 9 passed through the standard and bearing on the rod. The upper end of the rod is bifurcated, or in other Words is provided with a pair of diverging bearing arms 10 Whose upper ends have open U-shaped bearings formed therein.

The fan-support consists of a pair of L- shaped Wire arms 13, the vertical portions of which pass through and are adj ustably maintained b v thumb-screws within bearing collars formed on the ends of the transverse or rock shaft portionrlt of the support. Upon each of the horizontal branches of the arms is mounted a fan 16, the same being formed of Holland or other suitable material and having its lower edge slit so as to make a swishing noise when operated. The upper bearing or rock shaft portion 14: of the bail sits loosely within the open U-shaped bearings in the upper bifurcated ends of the rod, and between said bearings the said bearing-portion is provided with a cross-piece or double rock arm 17. the upper end of the extension rod by means of a coiled retracting spring 18, and from the opposite end of the arm at the other side of the bail there is secured one end of an oper ating-wire or cord 19.

Mounted in one of the sockets or openings formed in the base is a fanciful figure, as in this instance, of a man, the same being designated as 20, and having a Iianged circular base fitting in one of said sockets, the said tigure also having arms 2l pivoted at 22 to the body and the otherl ends of the arms perforated and having permanently connected or secured thereto by means of a flexible cord or wire 23 a small hook 24, which is designed to engage a loop 25 formed on the lower end of the operating-wire.

The construction just described which sets forth a figure detachably fitted into one of the base openings or sockets, is not only 'intended to provide for the ornamentation of the device, thereby contributing to its use- One end of the arm is connected to IOO fulncss for dining tables, but also acts in an auxiliary capacity for conveniently communicating motion to the fan bail, the figure always remaining connected with the operating wire or cord 19, so that it is only necessary to connect the main operating devices with the figure as will be presently described, and by reason of the mounting of the figure in the base, it can be readilydetached therefrom as well as from the cord 19.

26 designates a treadlelocated under the table upon the ioor and fulcru med upon a block 27, said treadle having a rear heel-guard 28 so as to accommodate the foot of the operator. A wire 29 is secured to the free end of the treadle and is provided with a long needle 30 which may be formed Vof copper or as in this instance of steel having a copper point 3l brazed on its upperend. Thisneedleispassed upwardly through the erevs at the meeting edges of two table-leaves and through the table-cloth, the point of the needle being bent to form a hook 33 and removably engaged in the perforation at the free end of theV arm of the figure. A slot 34 is formed in the base for the passage of the needle. A pin 36 extends from the standard, and by swinging the arms to that side of the standard at which the spring is located, and therefore against the tension of the spring, said arms may be crossed and engaged over said pin, whereby they are locked against separation or swinging, all as plainly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. When in operation, however, or unlocked as shown in Fig. l, it will be seen that by operating the treadle through the medium of the foot of one of the occupants of the table, the operating-Wires will serve to swing the fan in one direction against the tension of Athe spring and as soon as released from pressure of the foot the spring will retract and return the fan, thus accomplishing a swinging of the same.

It will be seen that the device may be operated with ease and as slow or fast, as the exigencies of the case may require, which I consider an advantage over those operated by mechanical powers, inasmuch as there is in that instance no means for regulating the swinging of the fan, and the same operates as vigorously when there is an absence of flies as when the flies are swarming about the table. Furthermore, the swinging motion is more effective in scaring the insects, in that the suddenness and length of its swing serves to cause a swishing noise and flutter of the strips of the fan, better calculated to scare the flies away from the table. It will be obvious also that I may omit the figure and connect the loop 25 of the operating-wire that leads from the arm of the fan-carrying bail directly with the hook-end of the needle. In order to detach the fan and remove the same from the table it is simply necessary to remove the hook from the loop 25, all as will be obvious, whereby a change of tablecloth may be had or new leaves put into the table or others withdrawn therefrom. It will be obvious that by raising and lowering the standard a proper height may be given the fan and the same adapted for both long and short tables, and thus be accommodated totJ1 e length of the fan-supports.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a ily fan. the combination with a base, a standard adjustably supported from the base and provided at its upper end with a pair of diverging bearing armsterminating at their extremities in open U-shaped bearings, an inverted swinging U-shaped bail comprising a transverse rock shaft portion loosely resting in said open bearings of the bearing arms and having collars located at its opposite ends, and L-shaped fan arms adjustably secured at their upper extremities in the c01- lars at the ends of the rock shaft portion and carrying fans at their lower outwardly bent ends, a single cross arm attached centrally to the rock shaft of the bail and projecting t0 both sides thereof, a coiled retracting spring connected to one end of the cross arm and to said standard, an operating wire removably connected with the opposite end of said cross arm, and a treadle connection for said operating wire, substantially as set forth.

2. In a fly fan, the combination with a base having a slot or opening therein and adapted to rest on top of a leaf table, a standard arising from the base, a swinging fan carried by the standard and an operating wire connected with the fan and terminating at its lower end in an eye; of a treadle adapted to be arranged under the table, an operating wire leading from the treadle, and a needleV having a pliable point bent to form a hook, said needle point being adapted to be passed through the crevice at the meeting edges of the table leaves, through the table cloth and through the slot or opening in said base, the bent hook being adapted to detachably engage the eye of said operating wire and the other end of the needle being connected to the operating wire of the treadle, substantially as set forth.

3. In a fly-fan, the combination with a base, a standard terminating at its upper end in bearings, and a pin extending from the base, of an inverted U-shaped bail mountedin the bearings of the arms and carrying at its lower ends fans, means for swinging thel bail, the arms of said bail being adapted to be sprung by each other and over said pin, substantially as specified.

4. In a fly fan, the combination with a base"f2w having a circular opening or socket therein, a stationary figure having a circular anged base detachably mounted in the opening and having a pivoted arm provided with a perforation at its outer extremity, a standard rising from the base, a swinging fan bail carried by the standard, an operating cord or wire connected to the bail and terminating at its lower end in an eye, a hook connected to the IOO perforated end of the figure arm and detaoh- In testimony that claim the foregoing as Y ably engaged by the eye of said operating my own I have hereto afiixed my signature in cord or wire, a treadle, and a needle connected the presence of two Witnesses.

at one end to the treadle and having a. hook at its other end adapted to detaehably engage Witnesses:

the perforation in the arm of the figure, sub- GEORGE ENGLAND,

stantially as set forth. W. D. ROGERS.

DAVID J. ROGERS. 

